No one knew where Aburame Hatsuizumi had gone. Normally, she would either stay at home tinkering with her insects, wander around the surrounding forests, or go out for a stroll or patrol.
Zixu pushed open the door of Hatsuizumi's house, effortlessly dodging the large spider that dropped from the door lintel. He fanned away the dust in front of him and walked to the stone platform where she usually studied her insects.
Hatsuizumi wasn't there, but her notes were scattered carelessly on the ledge, filled with records of her various experiments on insect control and theories about combining different species for specialized functions. Among the mess, there was also a small notebook tightly locked, its cover boldly labeled Aburame Hatsuizumi's Torture Plan. Zixu didn't hesitate—since it was locked, he naturally opened it.
"Zixu-san, sneaking into a girl's room isn't exactly proper behavior, you know~"
At some point, Hatsuizumi had returned. Her hands were covered in dust, and she held two massive beetles, their sharp mandibles snapping wildly in protest. Clearly, they were her spoils from this trip.
"Nothing much, just wanted to talk. I have something important to discuss with you." Zixu put down the notes in his hand, his expression calm, as if he had done nothing out of the ordinary.
Hatsuizumi dropped the beetles into a glass jar, sealing them inside for later study. For now, she'd spare their lives.
"Hm? Go ahead, I'm listening."
She strolled over to Zixu and, feeling exhausted, collapsed onto her oversized silk-covered bed. Wrapping herself in silk like a cocoon, she gestured for him to sit down as well. It was ridiculously comfortable.
Zixu sighed at the sight of Hatsuizumi bundled up like a caterpillar and shook his head.
"Hyuga Chinano and Karin have already found clear paths for their training, and naturally, I've made plans for you as well."
Hatsuizumi perked up immediately, rolling over until she was right next to Zixu, her interest piqued.
"Lock it tight, lock it tight."
"My suggestion is that you learn Senjutsu (Sage Arts). I mentioned before that I'd teach you Sage Mode, but for Chinano and the others, it's just supplementary training. If they master it, great; if not, it's no big deal…"
Both Hyuga Chinano and Karin had their own powerful bloodlines. Zixu had only encouraged them to practice Sage Mode because it would be a waste not to use the opportunity. At the very least, it would refine their chakra control, which was beneficial in every way.
But for Aburame Hatsuizumi, it was different.
The Hyuga and Uzumaki clans possessed innate strengths—Byakugan and immense chakra reserves, respectively. While the Aburame Clan was an esoteric clan as well, their strength came from their insect-based jutsu rather than inherited bloodline abilities.
Traditional Aburame shinobi formed contracts with insects, but those contracts weren't unbreakable. To counter this flaw, Hatsuizumi refined all her insects into extensions of her chakra, ensuring absolute control over them.
Senjutsu chakra would drastically enhance her insects. The difference between ordinary chakra-forged insects and those enhanced by Senjutsu chakra was like the difference between mortals and gods. It was the same as comparing an engine powered by diesel to one fueled by nuclear energy. The gap in power was immeasurable.
For others, Sage Mode was optional. For Hatsuizumi, it was a necessity.
"So, I'm taking you to Ryuchi Cave now. You must pass the trial. Sage Mode is just the foundation—mastering Senjutsu is the real goal."
Hatsuizumi finally unwrapped herself from the silk. She understood what Zixu was saying. She had long felt that improving her insects was becoming increasingly difficult. If this could take her to the next level, then she had no reason to refuse.
"Let's go."
Zixu grabbed her cold hand and activated the teleportation seal before she could react.
A wave of nausea hit her as the space around them distorted. Zixu, long accustomed to teleportation, barely felt anything, but Hatsuizumi wasn't as fortunate. Dizzy and disoriented, she collapsed onto Zixu, gripping his neck like a drunk person trying to steady themselves.
The Three Goddesses of Ryuchi Cave were taken aback by the sight.
"Did we… interrupt something?" Tagorihime, one of the serpent princess, awkwardly averted her gaze, unsure whether to look or not.
Ichikishima-hime, on the other hand, smirked. "Oh ho~ what a scene. This is quite entertaining." She giggled, clearly enjoying the situation, even if it meant she might get smacked later.
"Hatsuizumi, wake up!" Zixu held her close, lifting a hand to slap her awake. He paused midway as she stirred on her own.
Hatsuizumi blinked, her vision clearing just in time to see Zixu's hand hovering suspiciously near her face.
"…Were you about to hit me?"
Zixu didn't even flinch. Without missing a beat, he smoothly transitioned his outstretched hand into a gentle stroke along her cheek.
"Your face was dirty. Just wiping it off for you."
Ichikishima-hime burst into laughter, about to call out Zixu's obvious lie, only to realize she couldn't make a sound. She scowled—he had silenced her with a genjutsu.
"Yes, she's the candidate for Sage Mode training this time," Zixu addressed the serpent Princess. "The others are occupied, but they'll come later. For now, focus on her."
His subtle gesture to the three Hime made it clear—they could be as harsh as they wanted, but no killing.
He hadn't given Hatsuizumi or the others too many details beforehand. He had only emphasized that Ryuchi Cave was dangerous, that they could die at any time. In such extreme conditions, they would be forced to train harder and adapt quickly.
Despite this, Hatsuizumi wasn't particularly afraid. Everything about this place fascinated her, and death only meant she hadn't been strong enough—it was a simple equation.
The three Princess returned to their usual stern demeanor, explaining the trial's details in a solemn, almost ritualistic manner. As Tagorihime explained the process, Hatsuizumi's eyes dimmed slightly—her mind slipping into the depths of the illusionary test.
Zixu simply sat nearby, watching. He wasn't skilled with genjutsu, so his job was just to prevent any accidents.
But this was merely the preliminary trial before real training. Even if Hatsuizumi failed, it wouldn't mean death. The three Princesses wouldn't actually eat failed candidates, despite what they claimed.
With Hatsuizumi's training settled, Zixu finally had a moment to think.
"The next step is establishing the village… but there's no rush. We need to build up our strength first. If we open too soon, we'll be crushed by the other hidden villages."
For now, the focus was on power.
Everything else could wait.
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